Listen live

Australian police begin high-profile patrol in PNG

The first contingent of Australian Federal Police (AFP) at the start of a law-and-order mission to Papua New Guinea on September 1, 2004. They are part of the billion dollar Enhanced Cooperation Program under which 210 Australian police will eventually be deployed.

AFP

Australian Federal Police officers have gone on their first patrol with their Papua New Guinean counterparts in Port Moresby.

People sang, clapped and shouted "white man, white man!" as a dozen AFP officers joined local police on a walk through Gordons market on Wednesday.

The open-air market is one of the capital's busiest markets and has been a magnet for petty criminals.

The AFP's mission commander Assistant Commissioner, Alan Scott, says the aim of this first patrol was to be seen.

"So we came here this morning because it's a public market," he said.

"We wanted to have a high profile and meet citizens of Papua New Guinea."

Thirty AFP officers flew into PNG on Monday to act as advisers to improve the performance of the local police force.